In an effort to further extend its first-class service to the global traveler, Sol Melia Hotels & Resorts has created new websites utilizing the .travel Internet domain, each dedicated exclusively to each of its Paradisus luxury, all-inclusive brand resorts.

In order to register a .travel domain name, travel related companies must first be authenticated to prove that they are legitimate and legally entitled to use the domain name, immediately indicating to consumers that a website is authentic.

We believe that .travel presents an opportunity to protect our brands against those who abuse the registration of domains on the Internet, says Ashwin Kamlani, director of distribution for Sol Melia Hotels & Resorts` Americas Division. By using the .travel extension for each of our Paradisus Resorts, we can rest assured that no other person or company can reserve similar names with the intention of misleading customers to other websites, as we have experienced with .com domains.

Paradisus is dedicated to exceeding the expectations of guests in every arena to create an unsurpassed luxury vacation experience, Kamlani points out. By developing a single authenticated space on the Internet for each of our Paradisus resorts, we are better able to provide the specialized level of quality service guests have come to expect from Paradisus.

Ron Andruff, president of Tralliance Corporation, the .travel Registry, commends Sol Melia Hotels & Resorts for seeing the value of utilizing .travel as a benefit to consumers. Paradisus is leading the way among the hospitality industry by recognizing the need to protect their assets in order to better serve consumers.

By taking this first step and using .travel for one of our major brands we hope to encourage others in the travel industry to adopt .travel and to help educate consumers about the credibility of this domain extension, Kamlani says.